SKOPE NEWS FOR AUGUST 9, 2016

Nashville-based rock group The Wild Feathers – Ricky Young (guitar/vocals), Taylor Burn (guitar/vocals), Joel King (bass/vocals), and Ben Dumas (drums) – spent more than two years on the road supporting their 2013 self-titled debut album. The record hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart, leading to invites to appear on Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien, Seth Meyers, Craig Ferguson, and more.

Love|Less premiere new single with Upset

LOVE|LESS is the sound of five unified and hardworking minds coalescing to create energetic and formative modern punk-rock, strewn with the beguiling long since passed sounds of early 00’s MTV alt-rock. Their new EP ‘Act 1: Heaven’ is the result of this London based quintet’s continuous labour and their enduring determination to grow and the result is nothing short of breath-taking.

Norde is a Swedish writer, producer and performer, whose debut single Every Single Night released last year saw him garner some great pick-up from online tastemakers YourEDM, Dancing Astronaut, Discobelle, Earmilk, Mr Revillz. Clocking up over 3 million hits, it peaked at #2 in Spotify?s Swedish Viral chart and was supported by Tiësto, Martin Garrix and Ellie Goulding.

Sleeptalk Release Music Video for “Bones”

The LA space-rock quintet Sleeptalk (often stylized as SLPTVLK) has released a new music for their single “Bones.” The video premiered with Buzzbands.LA and comes from the group’s EP Young, the second installment in a planned trilogy of releases. In an attempt to convey the idea of getting lost in your own mind, SLPTVLK chose hazy California aesthetics to get across the emotions the song speaks about. The video was shot at Point Dume Beach and Valley Relics Museum in the San Fernando Valley.

Jazz drumming great Chris Parker and his esteemed trio are proud to announce the release of BLUE PRINT, dedicated to legendary music producer Arif Mardin. The CD features three never before recorded Arif Mardin compositions and is produced by Arif’s son, Joe Mardin. Of BLUE PRINT, Joe Mardin commented, “With producing this album came the double bonus of the opportunity to work with one of my drumming heroes and the opportunity to try to keep my father’s music alive…” Chris Parker stated, “Although I only worked with Arif a few times in the studio, his influence on me as a musician was beyond compare. It is an honor and a privilege to have worked with Arif’s son, Joe Mardin, on this project and I hope Arif would have approved.”

In addition to the three never before recorded Arif Mardin tracks (title track “Blue Print,” “First Days” and “Ballad”), BLUE PRINT also contains Parker’s take on such jazz classics as Ray Charles’ “You Be My Baby,” Horace Silver’s “Filthy McNasty” as well as new compositions. Grammy award winning trumpeter Randy Brecker also makes several appearances on the album. The album’s liner notes were written by Quincy Jones. The Chris Parker Trio is Chris Parker (drums), Kyoko Oyobe (piano) and Ameen Saleem (bass). Please see below for the full track listing of BLUE PRINT.

Hayley Kiyoko has announced her Atlantic Records debut with her CITRINE EP, set to arrive at all DSPs soon. The CITRINE EP was recorded earlier this year, with all songs produced by 4e (The Neighbourhood) and Bram Inscore (Troye Sivan, Beck). CITRINE – which takes its name from the amber gemstone known in crystal work for its powerful healing energies – includes the new song, “Gravel To Tempo,” available today at all DSPs. The self-empowerment anthem is accompanied by an equally powerful and playful companion video – written and directed by Kiyoko – which premiered on Friday via Refinery 29.

WATCH: BETSY’S “LOST AND FOUND”

Betsy says: Remember your first love, but maybe not as fondly as you’d like? “Lost and Found” is about that feeling of obsession and aggravation. This bloke would annoyingly tip up and disappear as randomly as he had appeared for years after we’d split. I wanted the video to express my annoyance at not being able to shake him off—hence the aggressive smashing shit up with a crowbar.

Watch Fleurie’s Video for “Sparks” at YouTube

Fleurie has released her new music video, “Sparks,” premiering with new music community ThisNewBand. This is the second video released from her 2015 EP, Arrows, following “Still Your Girl” featured at The Wild Honey Pie last month. Fleurie describes the concept behind “Sparks” as that “…moment in time when you realize for the first time that you’re in love with someone… whether it’s someone you’ve known a long time or someone you’re meeting for the first time.”

What began as a basement party band in the pits of Allston, MA in 2011 exists today as the Brooklyn garage-soul group, Evolfo. From a bubbling mixture of rock, psychedelia, and a touch of spaghetti western drama, this insurgent group has emerged.

The band has just released “Moon Eclipsed The Sun,” the first single off their forthcoming EP, Last of the Acid Cowboys via Impose Magazine. “The 7-piece’s lyrics have gotten heavy with the weight of the world…” says Impose “…[There’s] soulful inspiration oozing from every line…[and] the vocals are so layered with angst and genuine emotion that you fall into the depths of the lyrics within seconds.”

Video: Young Dolph – “Royalty”

It’s good to be the king. In the video for “Royalty,” a highlight from his King of Memphis album, Young Dolph shows us just how good it can be, flexing his wealth in a massive mansion he shares with beautiful women, a monkey, a giraffe, and even a white tiger. Filmed in the Hollywood Hills, the video does not merely show off Dolph’s considerable ends, but also “celebrates Black Excellence,” says Dolph. Inspired by Coming To America, “Royalty” styles Dolph as an African prince, a title befitting his position as King of Memphis. The video arrives just in time for Young Dolph’s Royalty Tour, which commences on August 9th in Dallas, TX.

Paul Bergmann will release his debut full-length album, Stars And Streams, on August 26. The album is the follow up to the criticially acclaimed Romantic Thoughts EP out now on Fairfax Recordings. The Bluegrass Situation has premiered a stream of “Always, Forever” from the upcoming release. Paul Bergmann says, “‘Always, Forever’ is an impersonal song for me. I feel a fond detachment toward it, as if it’s always existed on its own. I don’t remember finding the words to write it and sometimes I’m not sure it’s me singing it. It seems to be about acceptance, love, the feeling of standing before a tall mountain. Meaning. But it’s probably not about anything at all. Sometimes I wish to live in this song when I’m deeply sad.”

Elijah Ford’s new album As You Were was recorded at Austin’s legendary Arlyn Studios, and was produced by Stew Jackson (Massive Attack, Phantom Limb) and engineered by Jacob Sciba (Gary Clark Jr, Willie Nelson). The new album pushes the pop-rock sound of his previous work into more hook-filled territory. Joined on bass by Jesse Ebaugh (Heartless Bastards) and Ricky Ray Jackson (Phosphorescent) on guitar, Ford’s backing band The Bloom has crafted a concise, powerful slab of rock & roll with honest and direct songwriting.

NME premieres a live video part of Daptone’s “Live At The House Of Soul” series, featuring The Mystery Lights performing “What Happens When You Turned The Devil Down?” The song is the closing track from the band’s self-titled debut LP released earlier this summer on Daptone’s new rock imprint, Wick Records. Previous artists to perform in the label’s Bushwick backyard for the series include Charles Bradley and Antibalas.

Legendary multiplatinum Award-winning German electronic music project ENIGMA returns with its long-awaited eighth full-length album, The Fall Of A Rebel Angel [Republic Records], available in stores and at all digital retailers November 11, 2016. The digital pre-order goes live today, HERE! On October 10, the first single and instant grat download “Sadeness (Part II)” will become available — a sequel to the project’s most notable and successful hit “Sadeness (Part I).”

Driven by founder, composer, and producer Michael Cretu, The Fall Of A Rebel Angel weaves together twelve conceptual tracks, known as “Chapters,” into one cohesive and compelling story. The music paints a picture of a protagonist’s progression, growth, and ultimate evolution. Created with the diehard fan base in mind, the record confidently stands at the intersection of classical influences, dubstep, chant, intriguing vocals, and whirling, wild emotions.

Nashville alternative group Birdtalker has unveiled an acoustic performance of its breakout single, “Heavy.” Nashville Lifestyles premiered the video commenting, “Adding a special layer of intimacy to the song, Birdtalker releases an acoustic video version with videographer Gavin Nutt…” As the first single released from Birdtalker and the lead single from the band’s forthcoming EP, “Heavy” has amassed nearly 900k plays at Spotify since releasing on June 24. The group’s debut EP, Just This, will be released on August 19, followed by an EP release show at The High Watt in Nashville on 9/1. Opening the show is Great Peacock, along with special un-announced guests.

Legendary Queens rapper and one half of Capone-n-Noreaga N.O.R.E. alongside Miami hip-hop pioneer DJ EFN come together as the Drink Champs. Almost from the launch of the audio podcast listeners have requested full video and although that was always the intention of the Drink champs the team wanted to establish the podcast. Now that the podcast has been well established full video episodes are starting to roll out. Listen and subscribe and now watch the #1 hip hop podcast in America HERE!

INFINITE SPECTRUM Releases “The Calling” Lyric Video

New York City progressive rock/metal outfit INFINITE SPECTRUM has issued a new lyric video from their recently-released, H. P. Lovecraft-inspired, Haunter Of The Dark album, out now on Sensory Records. The captivating new video was created by Wayne Joyner for the album’s “The Calling,” and now sees its premiere at New Noise Magazine.

Minneapolis rock & roll mastermind Mark Mallman released his eighth full-length album, The End Is Not The End, in March, garnering high-praise from publications such as the Minneapolis City Pages, who called the album, “an epic, near-perfect release.” Following the release of the Snapchat animation video for “It’s Good To Be Alive” in May, and “Terrified” in June, Mark Mallman has premiered a video for the title-track, “The End Is Not The End”, via The Current – share via YouTube – in advance of his performance at Target Field on August 10. The video was partially created using the Prisma animation app.

HIGHASAKITE ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE “SAMURAI SWORDS”

Fresh from Glastonbury and Latitude Festivals, and just ahead of a headline spot on Norway’s renowned Øya Festival, HIGHASAKITE announce new single “Samurai Swords” – taken from sophomore album Camp Echo, out now via Propeller Recordings. The new single is the third from their critically acclaimed new album that has earned raves from the likes of Vogue, The Guardian, The FADER, MOJO, Interview, Glamour and Q Magazine.

Expire will release their third full-length, With Regret, on September 23rd from Bridge Nine Records. Today, the band has announced that they will disband in Spring 2017, following the album’s release and after considerable worldwide touring, and have issued this statement:

”Come Spring of next year, we’ll be putting the band to rest. There isn’t some huge explanation to give. To put it simply, we all decided that we would rather end it on our terms and when we want to, rather than fade off. We’ve never been the type to only play a few shows here and there or sit dormant for any amount of time. Expire started as a band that didn’t know how to slow down and that’s the way we’ll end it. This band snowballed into something none of us planned for and before it’s done, we want to extend a very real thank you to anyone and everyone who had a part in it over the past 7 years. Writing this comes with a pretty insane feeling, but really; thanks for supporting us, it’s been fun.

Ruby The RabbitFoot is beyond excited for this week’s release of her stunning new record, Divorce Party, out August 12th on New West Records’ imprint Normaltown Records. Today, you can stream the record in full via Stereogum, who write that Ruby “unabashedly captures the full gamut of emotions that comes with moving past a soul-stirring love.”

His Clancyness’ sophomore album and follow-up to Vicious, their debut on England’s seminal FatCat Records. Vicious saw the band blaze a relentless trail across Europe and the US, hitting well over 150 cities across multiple tours before setting their sites on writing LP number 2.

Multi-platinum artist, music industry visionary, innovative influencer, mogul, mega-producer, and Anthem King DJ KHALED officially kicks off the #EpicSummer campaign and celebrates his first-ever #1 album debut on the Billboard 200 Chart with MAJOR KEY (We The Best Music Group/Epic Records). The news was announced today by LA Reid, Chairman and CEO, Epic Records.

MAJOR KEY was exclusively available as a premium-only release on one service, Apple Music and the iTunes Music Store. MAJOR KEY is now available to all digital retailers and streaming services and the physical CD release is August 12th.

Money Maker, one of the rarest albums in legendary reggae label Studio One’s catalog, has just been reissued in LP/CD and Digital formats.

Featuring a more overt soul and jazz sound for Studio One, the album is comprised of mostly instrumentals of early Studio One tracks made famous by groups like The Heptones, The Wailing Souls and John Holt. Money Maker features performances by Studio One house bands, The Sound Dimension, The Soul Brothers and The Soul Vendors joined by Im and David, guitarist Ernest Ranglin, Lloyd Williams, Jackie Mittoo and “The Boss” himself, Coxsone Dodd. The original 1970 release was pressed in limited quantities and remained out of print until 2002 when a limited edition including extra tracks was released. Remastered from the original session tapes, this reissue is presented with it’s original track listing and iconic “cash” cover.

Following the release of 8 studio albums, 4x Grammy-nominated hip-hop icon, Rick Ross, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his debut album, Port of Miami. The Maybach Music Group boss and global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL, will live-stream a special performance from Rick Ross live from the Port of Miami in Miami, FL. on Monday, August 29th at 8:30pm ET on Tidal.

With the first pick in the draft, Monster Energy and Idol Roc Entertainment select Post Malone to headline the 2016 Outbreak Tour with special guests, Jazz Cartier and Larry June, hosted by FKi 1st. The 41-date tour will kick-off in San Diego at The Observatory on September 14th and conclude in Los Angeles at The Wiltern on November 9th.

“Saturday Night” is the first single to be released by rising crossover pop star, Clinton Sparks. This is the lead track on his second studio album by Cruzach Music Group and distributed by Kobalt Music. Saturday Night is an anthemic pop record, infused with Rock and Hip Hop tones, with an explosive and memorable chorus, celebrating fun, party lifestyle and Saturday Night. The single features a rap vocal collaboration with rising star Joey Bandz.

Sparks began his career in music and entertainment as the DJ and host of his award-winning, worldwide syndicated radio show, “SmashtimeRadio w/ Clinton Sparks.” Clinton has been playing and breaking hits for more than a decade on radio and performing at venues around the world. As a Songwriter/Producer, Sparks’ work has garnered Multi-Platinum sales spanning over 17,000,000 albums. Clinton has collaborated with hundreds of artists, like Macklemore, 2 Chainz, T.I., Ty Dolla Sign, Snoop Dogg and more.

A pioneer of Detroit Techno and one-third of the celebrated Belleville Three, iconic producer Kevin Saunderson returns to his famed E-Dancer alias on his latest release, “One Nation,” out now via KMS Records. With the first E-Dancer album Heavenly seeing its release in 1998, “One Nation” maintains the rich, underground-facing roots of its predecessors, and delivers a production that is both modern and contemporary. Debuted by Resident Advisor, Saunderson’s latest offering builds upon layers of hi-hats, kick drums and synths, all of which still nod to his rich musical heritage.

On August 19, the New England based Arc Iris will release a new album called Moon Saloon. Produced by the group and mixed by electronic producer David Wrench of FKA Twigs and Caribou fame, the album showcases beat-heavy melodies and textural, groove-riding rhythms.

NPR Music premiered the video for the album’s title track and said “‘Moon Saloon’ is what it feels like when you stay up late thinking about the way things could’ve gone. It’s a heartbreaker enveloped in deeply beautiful and complicated textures and layers of sound.”

Dubliner, Christy Leech, was found performing and DJing at secret parties held by young artists in various unused warehouses around Brooklyn in summer 2015. Using a cheap guitar, a broken bass and a laptop, he recorded a series of lo-fi dance/disco infused demos and Le Boom was born.

A self-confessed control-freak, Christy does almost everything himself from the writing, playing and recording to the making of CD covers to the editing of his music videos.

Nashville-based Modern Inventors have premiered their track “Closer” at Stereogum. Featuring drummer Daru Jones (Jack White), as well as bassist Owen Biddle (The Roots), Stereogum said of the track “There’s a murmuring buzz beneath the smooth rumble of the rhythm section, infusing lax chillwave with a psychedelic soul that evokes the Flaming Lips by way of Toro Y Moi.” The song is off the 2-song single – “Tonight / Closer,” out September 9th.ONA Premieres Video For “It Takes Two To Be A Girl”

ONA launched into the music scene with her debut EP Sex Rock in early 2016. Her unique orchestral bedroom rock combines intimate soft vocals, an edgy contemporary soundscape, and poetic sensual lyrics. Mixing Mazzy Star and Lana Del Rey with Pink Floyd and Liz Phair, ONA is a kind of flower child for the Internet age. Hailing from Brooklyn, she is also an art world darling whose “extreme selfie model” images have been critically acclaimed in Artforum and shown at galleries around the world. Her first album, Lullabies for Daddy, will be released in early 2017, but she’ll be previewing songs during one of her several 2016 “Selfie Tours,” wherein she travels around America Instagramming, Snapchatting, and singing and dancing for her many virtual fans in a digital celebration of love, adventure, and the lit rock lifestyle.

Eros and the Eschaton has premiered a third single, “The Way I Feel 2Nite”, from their upcoming sophomore album, Weight Of Matter, via SoundsBetterWithReverb – share via Soundcloud – prior to the album’s arrival August 19 on Bar/None Records. Guitarist/vocalist Adam Hawkins described the track, stating, “To me the song is about reflecting on the impermanence of all things. It’s adapted from a poem written by my buddy and Eros And The Eschaton ghost member, James Finch.” The band will celebrate with two home state performances, August 26 in Colorado Springs and August 27 in Denver

Today, Thee Oh Sees have shared the full stream of their new record A Weird Exits at SPIN, who say of the record, “In one 40-minute swoop, Thee Oh Sees jam incessantly — and more often than not, wordlessly. Frontman John Dwyer amps up the fuzz and grit tenfold to best mimic the group’s renowned live shows, particularly on cuts like the ruthless “Gelatinous Cube” and amusingly titled “Ticklish Warrior.” Though Dwyer is always to credit for the band’s destructiveness, the double-drummer combo of Ryan Moutinho and Dan Rincon provide an extra oomph that brings the recording to life, even listened to on a pair of s**tty headphones.”

Friday night, NYC hotspot Up & Down hosted Future’s official after party presented by Budweiser after his sold out Summer Sixteen show at Madison Square Garden with Drake. The night was not one to be missed as Future hyped the crowd with a spectacular performance of his hits including March Madness, Low Life, Grammys, Jumpman as well as DJ Khaled’s crowd favorite I Got The Keys. A-listers including Rita Ora, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, Theophilus London and top model Andreja Pejic danced and celebrated with bottles of Ace of Spades as they watched the rare performance Future gave to the packed house. NY Knicks players Kristap Porzingis and Derrick Rose, and Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves were also in attendance to catch Future’s truly legendary performance.

Matthew Szlachetka’s new single, “Heart of My Hometown”

This is the first single and title track off of Matthew’s upcoming album.

It was produced, engineered and mixed by Grammy winning producer David Bianco (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Lucinda Williams, The Black Crowes). The song was recorded at Dave’s Room (www.davesroom.net) in North Hollywood, CA.

The song was mastered by Brian Lucey (Magic Garden Mastering). Brian has mastered the last 4-5 Black Keys albums along with all the side projects by Dan Auerbach. He also mastered the latest albums by Lucinda Williams, Delta Spirit, Cage The Elephant, Grace Potter, Ringo Starr, Marilyn Manson and many more!

Altadore Releases New Album “Opal, Luna and Hymn”

Portland’s alt-indie-brit-folk-rocker Altadore has been writing his newest album Opal, Luna, and Hymn for over 3 years, and we finally get to experience the fruit of his labors with the album’s release on Soundcloud. Recorded by local studio legend Jeff Bond, one-man-band David Katz captures a lofty range of sound and emotion, evoking sounds and influences from the folk-rock ballads of Father John Misty and Andy Shauf. Despite the long absence of new material, Katz has garnered the attention of Portland media and music elite.

Sydney psyche-dealers – The Tambourine Girls – are proud to offer a first glance at their brand new video for their near-eponymous recent single ‘The Tambourine Girl’. This is the second single release and the first visual element assigned to their forthcoming debut album, a timely performance video as they also announce a three date East Coast Tour.

The video pulls no punches, boasting the band well in their element and captured by director James Kates, a semi-professional body boarder, drummer for The Pinheads, percussionist in Shining Bird and maker of various music videos and surf clips.

Hot out the oven, Brisbane’s Born Joy Dead return today with ‘Sourdough’, a brand new single for daydreamers and brunch enthusiasts everywhere. There’s no mucking about either, they’ll take to Black Bear Lodge to launch this freshly baked tune in just under three weeks.